Inlay Figure of a King in Four Pieces
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
Glass inlays like this were used to decorate shrines or cartonnages. When forming part of the decoration of a cartonnage, they were pressed directly into the outer coat of plaster while it was still wet. This inlay probably formed part of the decorative pattern of a box, a piece of furniture, or an item of funerary equipment. The bright colors not only enhanced the appearance of the object but had symbolic significance as well.
MEDIUM
Glass, gold leaf
DATES
305–30 B.C.E.
PERIOD
Early Ptolemaic Period
DIMENSIONS
5 9/16 x 2 3/8 x 5/16 in. (14.1 x 6 x 0.8 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
49.61.1-.4
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Upper half of opaque glass inlay figure of king wearing Crown of Lower Egypt and facing right. Made in separate pieces. Crown (.1) of dark purple–blue glass with remains of gilding. Head (.2) in dark red glass, highly polished, imitating jasper. Band between forehead and crown yellow glass. Torso (.3) with right arm raised of same glass as head. Of the necklace only part of the lowest row survives. This is of green and black (?) mosaic glass. Unplaced fragment (.4) in blue glass probably is from another row in the necklace.
Condition: Traces of gold leaf on crown. Right hand lost. Necklace incomplete.
CAPTION
Inlay Figure of a King in Four Pieces, 305–30 B.C.E. Glass, gold leaf, 5 9/16 x 2 3/8 x 5/16 in. (14.1 x 6 x 0.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 49.61.1-.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.61.1-.4_SL1.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 49.61.1-.4_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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we welcome any additional information you might have.
What were these used for?
These are inlays, they would have been set into surfaces (like on a wall or on a coffin) as decoration.
The falcon head, though, is actually from a piece of jewelry! You can tell because it is rimmed in gold unlike the others.
It's a terminal for a broad collar (there is a big blue broad collar on view at the other end of the gallery). Attached at the bottom, would have been the beads, and above its head would have been the clasp or closure for the necklace.
Thanks!